Last weekend, my parents bought me my first bike in about 12 years. During that bikeless time, I had only ridden a bike on a handful of occasions, once during my now infamous drunken Cape May weekend a couple years ago, where I texted both my sister and brother that “I ride a bike real good” or something along those lines. Other than that one drunken transgression of illiteracy, I have not had my own real bike since I was in middle school and my super sweet parents decided to change that. It’s not that I can’t afford my own bike, it’s just that a bike was not on my radar of things to buy, as I contemplate moving to a new apartment, maybe getting a real grown up mode of transportation like a car (I have my license but I don’t drive, you don’t really have to in NYC) and other life things that take precedence over a bike. So, enter my cool parents who took me to Roy’s bike shop in Sheepshead bay where I got a super sweet vintage blue hybrid Specialized Globe bike (I think..but I’m not home to check).

Anyway, one of the most important things to buy along with a bike, especially in the city, is a helmet. I bought a pretty standard slate colored helmet by a brand that I cannot remember right now. However, if I’m looking to upgrade, some of the following helmets would definitely be on my radar, especially for cute winter city riding ( just kidding dad, I’ll only be riding in the park..)

This may be a motorcycle helmet, but the leopard print is too cute to pass up. I actually stumbled across this on overstock.com, but the helmet still isn’t really cheap at around $60. Either way, pretty cute!

http://ridingprettydesigns.blogspot.com/

The helmet cover above is absolutely amazing for winter riding in style. It looks a little bulky, but I’m absolutely in love. I’m pretty sure it’s sold, and the blog doesn’t look like it’s getting many updates, but it’s definitely inspiring me to get something a little cooler than the plain old gun metal gray helmet I have.

Paris Herringbone helmet

Yakkay makes some really cool helmets that don’t look like helmets at all. The helmets are covered by really cute hats that would make riding in the Winter pretty stylish. But don’t be fooled, the helmet that resides underneath is actually a really good quality helmet, so you’re getting all of the style without sacrificing the safety.

Also, once you have your helmet, pretty sure you’re going to want to upgrade with this cool ass vintage looking horn. Or is that just me?

Happy (belated) Birthday Mac!

If you’re a longtime reader of Ode To Awe, you must know that I am completely obsessed with Macaulay Culkin. I know, it’s ridiculous and maybe a bit wierd, and the dude is barely making movies but my fascination with Mac started when I was tiny and it’s hard to let things like that go. So, it may come as a surprise that I totally missed his birthday, but really shouldn’t because I’m not like stalker obsessed and I actually have a life. Anyway, I think we really need to start petitioning Mac to make more movies and public appearances. I know it’s fun to be a reclusive turtle, but brighten my life a little with some movies, ok? And one “rumored” appearance in some military drama slated for 2011 on IMBD is not enough!

Check Mac out below partying it up in London a week ago with his brother Kiernan at the premiere of his (brother’s) movie Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World. I’m digging the outfit, what do you guy’s think?

Image Courtesy of Celebrity-Gossip.net

Definitely the only person in the world that can pull off the blonde/flesh colored beard.

Apologies all around, I was very bad about keeping up my week of Japanese brands. So, in an effort to right a wrong, I’ll be sporadically posting some more this week. We begin Monday morning with Mista Mista, a fabulous Japanese brand with a very versatile and quite androgynous  aw10 Men’s collection. From what I gathered online, it looks like Mista Mista does women’s clothing as well, however, their website only showcases the men’s collection (unless that’s the women’s collection being modeled by a man, which is entirely possible).

Mista Mista

First of all, can we just talk about the model for minute? Like a love child of Billy Idol and Sid Vicious. He is fabulous.

One day I’ll accrue enough Vacation days and save enough money and go to Japan and meet all of the amazing designers behind these brands and go into debt buying a million pieces from each. Le sigh, for now I watch from afar.

Making your Sunday a little better one ridiculous video at a time.

Seriously, this is freaking hilarious.

Last weekend, my friend Jessica and I took a trip to our childhood stomping ground. From 8 to 13 years old, we spent our Summers growing up in the Poconos. A friend of my mother’s decided to start a little “Summer Camp” type of program, where she would rent a large house in a community in Poconos, and along with 1 other adult that she hired (a friend of her’s) she would fill the house with a gaggle of girls. Usually there were about 8 girls, give or take, ranging in ages from about 6 to 14. It was the 90’s and MTV was still cool, and we learned about life and friends and boys and for some, how to swim. Coming back, everything sparked amazing memories. Of course, it was nice to be old enough to drink and have a car to drive around in, but nothing compares to those Summers.

Anyway, one highlight of the weekend was the amazing flea market we perused on Saturday morning.

These handmade lip balms by Saved Soap are amazing. I picked up the natural (not big on flavors) and it’s fantastic. Jess got a Vanilla lotion that makes your skin like butter, seriously.

The best flea market find ever, a vintage working typewriter for $8

We also spent our nights being silly and listening to music and talking about life and burning marshmallows. It felt like we were kids again.

Burning Marshmallow

Burnt Marshmallow

Melted Fork

One thing we didn’t get to do was have a Barbecue, which we planned for Sunday, because of crazy torrential rain. So, with a ton of bread leftover, we stopped by a large field that we know Deer frequent and start tossing the buns like Frisbees. Hopefully the Deer like their bread whole wheat.

]]> http://odetoawe.com/blog/2010/08/poconos-for-the-weekend/feed/ 3 http://odetoawe.com/blog/2010/08/acrobats-of-god-aw-2010-11/ http://odetoawe.com/blog/2010/08/acrobats-of-god-aw-2010-11/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:25:56 +0000 odetoawe http://odetoawe.com/blog/?p=1476

I was pleasantly surprised to find the Acrobats of God AW 2010-11 lookbook in my email yesterday. The shoes for Fall/Winter are tougher than in their previous collection, but still feature the elastic bandaging we saw before. As a new brand, launched just this year, they’re doing pretty well and for good reason, their shoes are beautiful.

My favorite is the middle pair with the wooden wedge. For more info, check out their website.

MGMT’s at Radio City Music Hall 8/17/2010

Fischerspooner at Highline Ballroom 8/12/2010

MGMT was the last concert I had tickets to, time to start looking for some new ones for the Fall.

Earlier in the year, I became really obsessed with Australian Fashion and dedicated a whole week of posts to established as well as up and coming Australian designers. Beginning with one of my favorites, Romance Was Born, I couldn’t stop posting different brands based out of Australia. The thing is, that’s kind of how I am about everything. If I love a pair of shoes, those shoes are getting worn every day. When I’m listening to music, I’m not listening to a playlist most of the time; I’m just listening to one band for weeks. So, it should come as no surprise that after looking into some Japanese blogs and clothing brands this week, my mind just could not focus on anything else.

So, let’s begin our little Japanese adventure with Dissteady Own Philosophy. See, the problem here is, I don’t speak Japanese. As with many foreign designers and brands, I cannot understand a word of their website. I would try to translate it, but it won’t allow me to do the whole copy/paste and translate thing, so I’m stuck trying to figure out as much as I can from random words in English. So, what do I know? I know Dissteady is based out of Tokyo and features both women’s and men’s clothing. Their website just has some pieces from the women’s collection, however, some google spy skills found a bunch of men’s tees online as well. Although I don’t know too much about them yet, just looking the photos of their clothing and their other inspirational images gives a pretty good overview about their aesthetic and what they’re basically about.

Once I find out more I’ll update this post. If you know anything about them, leave it in the comments.

Xanadu

Last Wednesday, I went to one of the best concerts of my entire life. Holy Ghost followed by Hercules & Love Affair followed by Hot Chip. Everything about the show was amazing, including the people I was with. We danced all night, I don’t think there was a moment where we were still. I was engulfed by the heavy smoke around me. Although we were outside, Central Park Summer Stage felt like a tiny, smoky, dark club. Although I don’t smoke, and smoke usually bothers me (not ethically or morally, but I literally start to get a headache) somehow, this night, nothing mattered. I felt great and danced my ass off and by the end of the night I was drenched in sweat as was everyone around me. Everyone left that concert with a smile on their faces. Every band was better than the last and Hot Chip absolutely killed it. However, as the post is titled, this is about Hercules & Love Affair.

The musical project, or love child as I like to think of it, of DJ Andy Butler, Hercules & Love Affair is comprised of Andy and Kim Ann Foxman, and of a rotating cast of characters. The band has a stage presence like I have never seen, it’s a mix of electro-dance-80’s-disco-underground-club-crazy-ness, it’s just perfect. Because I suck at ever bringing my camera anywhere, I am borrowing these pictures from the concert from Boom Boom Chik (Hope you don’t mind, but if you do, let me know!)

Also, since this is primarily a fashion blog (blah blah blah), let’s not forget to mention how adorable they all are and how much we love their style!